Automatic fuel feeding measuring and regulating device



(No Model.) 8 sheets sheet 1'.

W. H. GOOKE.

AUTOMATIC FUEL FEEDING MEASURING AND REGULATING DEVICE.

No. 515,932. Patented Mar. 6, 1894.

w; NAYIONAL umoumw eme comunv.

wuhmnron a c (No Model.) a Sheets-Shet 2.

W. H. 000KB.

AUTOMATIC FUEL FEEDING. MEASURING. AND'REGULATING DEVICE.

Patented Mar. 6, 1894.

ml NATUOOGAL umowurm own-Y.

wmvou. n. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. H. GOOKE. AUTOMATIC FUEL FEEDING MEASURING AND REGULATING DEVICE. No. 515,932. Patented Mar. 6, 1894.

66/ wean? /7zue fe?or I I %/4z m/%m y W m IIAYIDNM Lnmouum 1:00AM.

wnmro c. c.

Ur. ."Tno STATES PATENT @rrron.

lVlLLlAM HENRY COOKE, OF XVHITEHALL, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SUSAN V. OOOKE, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATlC FUEL-FEEDlNG MEASURlNG AND REGULATING DEVlCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,982, dated March 6, 1894.

Application filed October 26. 1893. Serial lilo. 489.159. (Ne model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM HENRY CooKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Whitehall, in the county of lVashington and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fuel- Feeding Measuring and Regulating Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this I 5 specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices adapted to feeding fuel to furnaces, and for regulating, measuring, and distributing said feed, and consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter described, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout.

Figure 1 of said drawings represents the boiler and furnace and fuel feeding device partly in section. Fig. 2 represents in detail the end of the rocker valve cylinder and chutes, with register attached. Fig. 3 represents longitudinal section of Fig. 2 on line 3-3. Fig. 4: is a section of chute showing its several deflectors in section and the gate valve. Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view, showing gate valve and rod connected.

In said drawings: letter Ais a hopper con- 3 5 nected with a receptacle for fuel, by either an elevator or suitable conveyor.

A is a stationary cylindrical casement attached on its upper side to the hopper, A, and on its lower side to the supporting chutes,

Q and Q, at the openings, F, F, of said chutes.

B is a double valve rocking on trunnions, B 13 which run in boxes, 13 B, Fig. 3, and which boxes are attached to supports extending from and attached to chutes, Q and Q 0 O are cups or buckets attached to and forming part of the valve, 13, as shown in Fig. 1.

D is a weight holding apron forming part of the rocker valve, 13.

G G G are stops projecting from and attached to the cylinder casement, A, Fig. 1.

E E are deflectors running from one end of the rocking valve to the other at points shown in Fig. 1.

F F are openings into the chutes, Q Q, from the easement, A.

F is an opening from the hopper, A, through the easement, A, into the rocker valve, B.

ihe construction and adjustment of the valve, B, and its described parts are such that it is perfectly balanced, but its movement is confined by the stops, G and G The operation of this device is such that having Weighted the apron, D, with any given weight, say five pounds, and a supplyof fuel being conducted through the hopper, A, to the cup, 0, when at the stop, G the cup, 0, being at F, as shown in Fig. 1, it is obvious that, when cup, 0, is loaded with fuel sufficient to overcome the weightin the apron, D, it will descend until the apex of apron, D, stops at G and the bucket, C, reaching F, or the opening into chute, Q, will discharge its load into said chute; while, on the other hand, the bucket, C, rises to the stop, G, and the apron, D, being at G leaves a free delivery from the hopper, A, into the cup, 0, which, when full or overweighting the weighted apron, D, will descend to the opening, F, and discharge its load into the chute, Q, and through these chutes to the furnace, and this operation will continually repeat its alternating function as long as the fuel is fed into the hopper, A, the rate of feed to the furnace being dependent on the amount fed to the hopper and the weight placed upon the apron.

The lines E E represent deflectors or divisions extending through the length of the cylindrical valve, B, and are so located as to deflect or direct the run of the fuel in the most direct way to the cups, 0 O, and are connected only at their ends to the heads or caps of the cylinder, 13, and are so adjusted as to pass without contact with the stops, G G and are also open at their lower ends by a sufficient space to permit fragments of fuel that may get between the deflectors, E and E, to pass into the cups.

The outer rims of the cups, 0 O, fit close up under the stops, G G while being loaded andeffectually prevent the escape of. gas or fuel between the rims of A and B and flanges, I I, which overlap the rim of B.

The chutes, Q Q, which receive and conduct the fuel from the cups, 0 O, to the furnace or fire-place on either side of the boiler are curved inwardly, as shown at Z, Fig. 1, and are provided with partitions forming the compartments, (1 q q q q and (1 as shown by Fig. 4, Sheet 3, the object of these partitions being to deflect the fuel from a direct course and depositit more equally, both lengthwise and laterally, over the fire surface of the grate. Hinged to the lnner concave side of these chutes at 0 are gate valves, P, Fig. 5, the object of which is to further deflect the fuel after it leaves the chute over the fire surface from the center to the side by the automatic movement hereinafter described. This valve consists of a hollow cylinder, P, Figs. 1 and 5, and two parallel plates attached to either side of said cylinder, having an air chamber between said plates so that the air can pass through the cylinder, P, and between said plates. To this cylinder is attached a crank, N, operated by connecting rod, N, Fig. 4. This rod, N, is attached to disk, N, Fig. 4, by crank pin. This disk is keyed to shafts, M and M, of the ratchet wheels, K and K on either chute, on bearings at one end supported by boxes on said chutes and at the other by supports as at M These ratchet wheels are operated by the ratchet rods, K and K, on either chute, which in turn are attached by crank pins to the outer end of the cylinder head of the rocker valve, B, as shown at K K, Fig. 1. The lower end of these ratchet rods, K and K, are curved inwardly to the periphery of the ratchet wheels, K K and rest upon and slide in grooves in the tables, L and L, respectively, attached to brackets on the side of the chutes. The object of these slides is that the ratchet rods will be inoperative until the apron, D, passes the center line of equipoise, and adds its weight to that of the cup when filled; and thus accelerates the descent of said valve and cup the length of the rod, and its relation to the ratchet wheel being such that the rod or pawl does not reach and move the ratchet wheel until the said apron, D, with its weight passes the center line of equipoise, and may be adjusted as desired.

N is a pipe of suitable size through which the connecting rod, N, and the crank, N operate, and its purpose is to protect said rods and cranks and to supply a current of air to keep them cool, and also supply a current through the cylinder, P, and gate valve, P, Figs. 4 and 5.

R represents the boiler, and S the grate with fuel in a state of combustion.

a is a register, as shown in Fig. 2, with an index hand, a. The construction of these registers is so well known that it is hardly necessary to describe it, its purpose being to register the amount of fuel that is fed to the furnace. It is operated by a ratchet rod, 1), oscillating on a pivot, 19, on the bar, 19 which is attached at either end to the supports, Q Fig. 2. The lower end of this ratchet rod is curved and operates a ratchet wheel, 0, attached to and forming a part of the register,

a, and the upper end swings between stops on a disk attached to the shaft of the rocker valve, 13, and kept from swinging outward by a guard attached to said disk. It is evident that, when the rocker valve, B, oscillates so that the cups, 0 O, descend on either side and dump their load, the disk with its stops will move'correspondingly and come in contact with the upper end of the ratchetbar, b, will move it onepoint with a-corresponding motion of its lower end, and, of course, move the ratchet wheel which, properly geared to subsidiary wheels, operates an indicator, as shown in Fig. 2. On theshaft, a, to which the indicator is attached, a wheel with one gear tooth is so placed that, when the indicator shows that a ton, or any desired quantity, of fuel or other material has been delivered through the chutes, this tooth comes in contact with the periphery of the gear wheel, a it will turn it one point. This gear wheel, a which is placed back of the disk, a,

has on its face consecutive figures stamped or painted, which are disclosed through an opening, 0. at every revolution of a. On the upper side of the bar, W, is attached a spring, 11 the object of which is to keep the ratchet rod, 1), in connection with the ratchet wheel, 0. As the ratchet bar operates only one side, it is evident that the indicator should show the amount of fuel deposited by both cups.

An important, valuable and novel feature of my invention is that of feeding the furnace from above, instead of the end of the grates, which is accomplished by means of the curved chutes and their compartments. The openings or lower ends of these chutes are bell-shaped, the partitions are arranged in a plane following the curve of the chute, and deposit the fuel in a continuous even shower on the top of the grates over both the length and breadth of the grate, the result of which is that the coal is coked immediately on its deposit and put in a state of combustion, instead of generating smoke and gas as when fed in large quantities at irregular intervals and from the end. The operation of the gate valve also contributes to this diffusion of the coal, since these valves are in constant movement either opening or closing the apertures of the chutes, as seen at P, Fig. 1, on either side of the boiler, and thus permitting, when open, the fuel to fall more directly; or when partly closed, deflecting such fall.

I do not confine my invention to the feeding of fuel to furnaces; for it is evident that the combination of the balance wheel with its cups or valves and weighted apron may be used for the discharge and measurement of grain or other materials when it is desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In an automatic furnace or fuel feeder provided with a hopper or suitable means for supplying fuel, the combination of a cylindrical or wheel-shaped double valve having cups or buckets, and weight holding apron, all perfectly balanced and rocking upon trunnions or a shaft in astationary casement, provided with stops and connected with chutes for discharging the fuel, all constructed, arranged and adjusted substantially as shown and described.

2. In an automatic furnace or fuel feeder, the combination of a cylindrical or wheelshaped device, provided with cups, a weight holding apron and deflecting partitions; all perfectly balanced and rocking upon a shaft, and an inclosing casement provided with stops; and openings connected with discharging chutes, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

3. In an automatic furnace or fuel feeder as shown and described, the chutes Q, Q, for receiving and conducting fuel to the furnace, having their lower ends curved, combined with internal curved partitions whereby the fuel is deflected and deposited evenly and continuously on the top and over the whole fire place, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

4. In an automatic furnace or fuel feeder as shown and described, the combination of the curved chutes Q, Q provided with deflecting partitions, and a gate valve, P, operated by means of ratchet wheels and rods as shown and described, said valve consisting of a hollow cylinder and openings, wherebya current of air is received from a covering pipe, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

5. In an automatic furnace or fuel feeder, the combination of the double valved cylinder supplied with fuel from a hopper and provided with cups, a weight holding apron, and deflecting partitions, all balanced and rocking upon trunnions or a shaft in an. inclosing casement, provided with stops for confining the movement of said valved cylinder, with chutes connected with said casement provided with deflectin g partitions, with the gate valve operated as shown, with the air pipe protecting said valve and attachment and providing a cooling current thereon, and with a register, Ct, for recording and indicating the amount of fuel supplied to the furnace, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM HENRY COOKE.

Witnesses:

HENRY S. BEELIN, W. E. AUGHINBAUGH. 

